It was not clear if Pompeo would meet directly with Kim Jong Un, as he had done previously.

"While the unification ministry and the foreign ministry move forward with denuclearization discussions aimed at scrapping North Korea's nuclear program, the defense ministry should further strengthen military preparedness so as to use it as a pressure card in negotiations with the North", Kim said.

At one of the lowest points in US-North Korean relations since Trump took office, the US president frequently called Kim "little rocket man" in Trump's speeches and tweets in 2017.

North Korea is believed to be constructing an operational nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine, and USA intelligence officials believe the rogue regime is deliberately "deceiving" Washington - even as Pyongyang says it seeks peace and denuclearization.

Pompeo wrapped a three-hour meeting with North Korean officials in Pyongyang Friday, saying he hopes to "fill in" details of the country's promise to denuclearize the peninsula. Following a summit in Singapore between the notorious leaders last month, Trump has delivered an unusual gift to Kim Jong Un - a copy of Elton John's "Rocket Man".

Tokyo has said it is ready to normalize ties with and provide economic support to North Korea following a comprehensive resolution of the nuclear, missile and abduction issues, according to the sources.

In that match, North Korea, led by Ri Myong Hun - who, at 235 centimeters (7 feet 8.5 inches) was described as the world's tallest player - routed South Korea 86-57.

Pompeo's talks, which resume on Saturday, will be closely watched in the region.

At the world team championships in May, North and South Korea were due to face each other in the women's quarter-finals - but they were given permission to form a joint team instead, losing to Japan in the semi-finals.

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